下载辰思小说免费APP
Atfirsttherewereotherfugitives，butwedidnotminglewiththem。
Someescapednorthward，somewerecaughtinthetorrentofpeasantrythatsweptalongthemainroads；manygavethemselvesintothehandsofthesoldieryandweresentnorthward。Manyofthemenwereimpressed。Butwekeptawayfromthesethings；wehadbroughtnomoneytobribeapassagenorth，andIfearedformyladyatthehandsoftheseconscriptcrowds。WehadlandedatSalerno，andwehadbeenturnedbackfromCava，andwehadtriedtocrosstowardsTarantobyapassoverMountAlburno，butwehadbeendrivenbackforwantoffood，andsowehadcomedownamongthemarshesbyPaestum，wherethosegreattemplesstandalone。IhadsomevagueideathatbyPaestumitmightbepossibletofindaboatorsomething，andtakeoncemoretosea。Andthereitwasthebattleovertookus。
“Asortofsoul-blindnesshadme。PlainlyIcouldseethatwewerebeinghemmedin；thatthegreatnetofthatgiantWarfarehadusinitstoils。Manytimeswehadseentheleviesthathadcomedownfromthenorthgoingtoandfro，andhadcomeupontheminthedistanceamidstthemountainsmakingwaysfortheammunitionandpreparingthemountingoftheguns。Oncewefanciedtheyhadfiredatus，takingusforspies——atanyrateashothadgoneshudderingoverus。
Severaltimeswehadhiddeninwoodsfromhoveringaeroplanes。
“Butallthesethingsdonotmatternow，thesenightsofflightandpain……WewereinanopenplacenearthosegreattemplesatPaestum，atlast，onablankstonyplacedottedwithspikybushes，emptyanddesolateandsoflatthatagroveofeucalyptusfarawayshowedtothefeetofitsstems。HowIcanseeit！Myladywassittingdownunderabush，restingalittle，forshewasveryweakandweary，andIwasstandingupwatchingtoseeifIcouldtellthedistanceofthefiringthatcameandwent。Theywerestill，youknow，fightingfarfromeachother，withthoseterriblenewweaponsthathadneverbeforebeenused:gunsthatwouldcarrybeyondsight，andaeroplanesthatwoulddo——WhatTHEYwoulddonomancouldforetell。
“Iknewthatwewerebetweenthetwoarmies，andthattheydrewtogether。Iknewwewereindanger，andthatwecouldnotstopthereandrest！
“Thoughallthesethingswereinmymind，theywereinthebackground。
Theyseemedtobeaffairsbeyondourconcern。Chiefly，Iwasthinkingofmylady。Anachingdistressfilledme。Forthefirsttimeshehadownedherselfbeatenandhadfallena-weeping。BehindmeIcouldhearhersobbing，butIwouldnotturnroundtoherbecauseIknewshehadneedofweeping，andhadheldherselfsofarandsolongforme。Itwaswell，Ithought，thatshewouldweepandrestandthenwewouldtoilonagain，forIhadnoinklingofthethingthathungsonear。EvennowIcanseeherasshesatthere，herlovelyhairuponhershoulder，canmarkagainthedeepeninghollowofhercheek。
“’Ifwehadparted，’shesaid，“ifIhadletyougo。’
“’No，’saidI。’Evennow，Idonotrepent。Iwillnotrepent；
Imademychoice，andIwillholdontotheend。“
“Andthen——
“Overheadintheskysomethingflashedandburst，andallaboutusIheardthebulletsmakinganoiselikeahandfulofpeassuddenlythrown。Theychippedthestonesaboutus，andwhirledfragmentsfromthebricksandpassed……“
Heputhishandtohismouth，andthenmoistenedhislips。
“AttheflashIhadturnedabout……
“Youknow——shestoodup——
“Shestoodup；youknow，andmovedasteptowardsme——
“Asthoughshewantedtoreachme——
“Andshehadbeenshotthroughtheheart。“
Hestoppedandstaredatme。IfeltallthatfoolishincapacityanEnglishmanfeelsonsuchoccas
